World News Tidbits ( Dec 10, 2015 - Feb 12, 2016 )

India has ranked 37th out of 38 countries in recently released Intellectual Property Index (IPI) by United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC). The 38 countries that have been evaluated accounts for nearly 85% of the global GDP. Venezuela with 6.42 points has been ranked the lowest below India.

In this edition of IP Index, India has scored 7.05, lower than last year’s 7.23.The country has remained at the bottom of the index for the fourth consecutive year. In 2015, it had moved one notch higher from the last position to the second last.

Intellectual Property Index : Intellectual Property Index has been prepared by USCC’s Global Intellectual Property Chamber (GIPC). It was started in 2012 and some of its criteria are patent, copyright and trademark protections, enforcement and engagement in international treaties.

European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in the sphere of cyberdefense, with an aim to curb modern forms of hybrid warfare.

The agreement was signed between NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) and the Computer Emergency Response Team – European Union (CERT-EU).

The agreement facilitates technical information sharing between NCIRC and CERT-EU so as to improve cyber incident prevention, detection and response and implement the objectives of the EU Cyber Defence Policy Framework.

The EU-NATO cooperation in cyber security started in 2010, with staff-to-staff cyber defence consultations and informal meetings. The EU has been also observing the NATO annual cyber defence exercise, "Cyber Coalition".

Feb 09, 2016France became first country in the world to forbid food waste by supermarkets

France has become the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks. Law in this regard has been unanimously passed by the French Senate.

Now large shops and super markets will no longer throw away good quality food approaching its expiry date and instead donate it to charities and food banks due to which charities and food banks will be able to give out millions more free meals each year to people struggling to afford to eat.

The law comes as a success to grassroots campaign in France by shoppers, anti-poverty campaigners and those opposed to food waste. The campaign, which led to a petition, was started by the councillor Arash Derambarsh. Campaigners now hope to persuade the EU to adopt similar legislation across member states.

Highlights of the new law

Supermarkets will now be bound to make donations to charities and food banks, failing which they face a fine of 75000 euros and a jail term of 2 years.

Supermarkets spread across 400 square metres area and above will have to sign donation contracts with charities or face a penalty of 3,750 euros.

February 6 is observed as International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation which is a UN-sponsored awareness day toward female genital mutilation (also called FGM) and to promote its eradication.

Theme for the year 2016 :- “Achieving the new Global Goals through the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation by 2030”

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia.Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade, with or without anaesthesia, FGM is concentrated in 27 African countries. It is conducted from days after birth to puberty and beyond, most girls are cut before the age of five.

The practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control women's sexuality, and ideas about purity, modesty and aesthetics. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls.

The practice also violates their rights to health, security and physical integrity, their right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and their right to life when the procedure results in death. At least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, with half of them living in Indonesia, Egypt and Ethiopia.

Geneva-based World Health Organisation (WHO) has accorded PQP (Pre-qualification of Medicines Programme) certification to Chennai based GreenSignal Bio Pharma for manufacturing a BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guerin) vaccine. GreenSignal is the second Indian company to get PQP certification from WHO.

PQP certification awarded by WHO will help GreenSignal to participate in the global immunisation programme, which is facilitated through international procurement agencies such as UNICEF and others.These international institutions prefer WHO list of pre-qualified pharmaceutical products while making a decision on procurement for distribution in resource-limited nations.

Vaccine manufacturer is headed by former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswamy. It has a full-fledged BCG vaccine production facility at Gummidipondy in Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu having production capacity of 60 lakh vials. Currently it is supplying BCG vaccine to the Government of India and Indonesia.

Feb 05, 2016Maharashtra rolls out Deradicalisation Programme in wake of IS threat

Maharashtra which is facing both home-grown extremism and the global Islamic State (IS) threat, has rolled out Deradicalisation Programme for the minority community.

The deradicalisation programme is based on the recent decision of the Union Home Ministry which has asked three States to frame comprehensive counter-strategy programme in wake of attempts made by international terrorist outfits to propagate jihadi ideologies.

State Home Department has rolled out a 50-point socio-economic strategy which aims at ‘bringing youth of the minority community into the mainstream’ by making coordinated efforts and policies in 13 sectors, including education, sports, urban planning, law and order, skill development, women and child, social justice, and health.

Highlights of the Programme

The State Education Department will launch a mid-day meal scheme in Urdu schools and provide textbooks at subsidised rates. Urdu will be taught as optional subject in 300 Marathi schools.

The programme includes opening vyayam shalas in minority areas, making National Cadet Corps (NCC), Bharat Scouts and Guides (BS&G) compulsory in minority schools.

Under the plan the religious texts from all sects will be taught in minority schools. The merits of democratic states and demerits of dictatorships will be taught as a seperate chapter in the Urdu textbooks.

It also seeks to create an environment of solidarity and trust among the minority community and envisages that various government schemes to reach out to them. Independent media outlet will be set up which will deliver ‘mainstream thoughts and values’ to the minority youth in the State

As per recently released United Nations world economy report India will be the world's fastest growing large economy at 7.3 per cent in 2016, improving further to 7.5 per cent in the following year. In the South Asia region, India’s economy will account for over 70 % of regions GDP.

Key facts of the report :

The sharp decline in the prices of oil, metals and food has boosted the macroeconomic environment in India. The decline in oil prices reduce the burden of fuel bill So this is the time for India to recheck fiscal efforts and raise revenues and do more spending on some of the social sectors.

Spending on infrastructure, health and education is very low compared to other nations such as China in the region so govt need to look at how to increase revenues so that it can invest more in these sctors.

Consumer and investor confidence has risen even as India's government faces difficulties in implementing its wide-ranging reform agenda and some economic indicators, such as industrial production, remain volatile

The report is produced annually by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the five UN regional commissions and the World Tourism Organisation.

As per Global Human Development Report (HDR) 2015 released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP ), Sri Lanka has maintained its high ranking in human development. Sri Lanka has been placed at the 73rd rank with an HDI value of 0.757. In the previous year’s report, it occupied the 74th place. Since the end of the civil war in 2009, the country’s rank went up by five.

The report, which studied a total of 188 countries and territories, has determined the HDI values by assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.

The UNDP took 1990 into account as it was from that year that the series of global HDI reports began. In the context of Sri Lanka, too, the year was significant as the Eelam War resumed in June 1990 after the withdrawal of the Indian Peacekeeping Force three months earlier.

In the annual Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2015-16 realeased recently India has slipped 11 places to rank 89th among 106 assessed countries in terms of talent competitiveness of its human resource. Last year, India was ranked 78th on the index.

GTCI list was compiled by INSEAD business school in partnership with Adecco and Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore (HCLI). It measures the nation’s competitiveness based on the quality of talent it can produce, attract and retain.

India’s ranking is worst among the five BRICS countries, while China has been positioned with a global rank of 48 which is highest among the BRICS nations.

Comment : Lower ranking of India on Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI ) reflects the acute shortage of skilled labour force and difficult business condition. India is facing the challenge of attracting talent from abroad, particularly in the context of large emigration rates of high-skilled people in the past.

The World Health Organisation declared an end to the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever in West Africa after no positive case was reported in last 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) and all known chains of transmission have been stopped.

Liberia, along with Sierra Leone and Guinea was an epicenter of the Ebola outbreak . Liberia was first declared free of Ebola transmission in May 2015 but the virus had reappeared twice since then.Sierra Leone and Guinea were declared free from Ebola transmission in November 2015 and in December 2015 respectively.

About Ebola :

Ebola was first identified in 1976 in after two simultaneous outbreakes, one in Nzara, and the other in Yambuku, a village near the Ebola River from which the disease takes its name.

Transmission : Ebola is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of people who are sick or bodies of the dead.

Type of disease : Viral disease

Deaths till date : Between 1976 and 2013, the World Health Organization reports a total of 24 outbreaks involving 1,716 cases. Nearly 23,000 children lost at least one parent or caregiver to the disease. Some 17,000 survivors are trying to resume their lives though many battle mysterious, lingering side effects. The largest outbreak to date is the epidemic in West Africa, which occurred from December 2013 to January 2016 with 28,638 cases and 11,315 deaths.

Ebola free : A country is considered free of the disease when it has passed two incubation periods of 21 days without any more cases.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have agreed on the inclusion of services and investment in the bilateral free trade agreement. This would help companies of the two nations to form joint ventures for exports to other nations.

The statement in this regard was made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his official trip to Sri Lanka which comes after eight months of President Sirisena’s visit to Pakistan in April 2015.Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena signed several memoranda of understanding and deals .

Trade relation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan :

When the FTA came into effect in June 2005, Since the Pakistan’s exports to Sri Lanka were to the tune of 150 million dollars.

Sri Lanka’s exports to Pakistan were valued at about $52 million, accounting for around 70 per cent of the country’s total exports to Pakistan.

MoUs signed between Sri Lanka and Pakistan :

Both the countries signed several MoUs. The MoUs covered a number of areas, including trade promotion and curbing money laundering and terrorism financing. Pakistan would help Sri Lanka to set up sugar and cement plants in Sri Lanka and promote dairy industry.

Defence Deal signed :

Pakistan also sealed a landmark defence deal to sell JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Sri Lanka. Under this deal Pakistan will sell 8 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets which are already part of Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Dec 30, 2015Giorgi Kvirikashvili elected as the new prime minister of Georgia

Giorgi Kvirikashvili elected as Prime Minister of Georgia as the 12th Prime Minister of Georgia after then Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili resigned from the post on December 29, 2015 without explaining his decision.

The parliament of Georgia has approved the new government by 86 votes to 28 against it. Now President Giorgi Margvelashvili will officially ratify this decision.

Kvirikashvili, 48, became Georgia`s third prime minister since the Georgian Dream coalition came into power in October 2012, preceded by Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Garibashvili.

Facts about Giorgi Kvirikashvili :

Giorgi Kvirikashvili is a Georgian politician who had served as Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs since September 1, 2015. Prior to that he had served as Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister since July 2013. He was also Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development from October 2012 till September 2015.

China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the top organ of China’s parliament has passed the country’s first counter-terrorism law to address rising terror threats at home and boost international security.

Key facts about the new law :

Media reports of terror attacks will also be monitored with restrictions on reporting details of terror activities that might lead to imitation and images of "cruel and inhuman" acts.

It is mandatory for technology firms to give sensitive data like encryption keys to the government bodies when asked for under this law.

The new law grants overarching powers to security agencies and also allows the military to venture overseas on counter-terror operations.

The new law includes measures forcing telecommunication companies and internet service providers (ISPs) to install online 'back doors' in servers so they can be easily accessed by government officials when needed.

China's Parliament has adopted the country's first law against domestic violence, bringing traditionally silent abuse victims, including couples who are in live-in relationship, under legal protection. The new law, passed by the Chinese national legislature, prohibits any form of domestic violence, including psychological abuse. The legislation was approved at the end of a week-long bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

Importance of the new law :

It enables individuals and organisations to prevent domestic violence, and allows legal guardians and close relatives of abuse victims, in addition to the victims themselves, to report abuse. Police will have to step in immediately when such a report is filed.

China previously did not have a special law covering violence in the family. References to the matter were only made in other laws and regulations such as the Marriage Law, the Law on the Protection of Minors and the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women.

More than 40,000 complaints of domestic violence are lodged with the ACWF (All-China Women's Federation) each year. Victims resorting to the ACWF for help are mainly women, children and the elderly, and 88.3 per cent of cases received in 2014 involved abuse by husbands of their wives.

Facts to know about the new law :

Victims and those in immediate danger can file for a personal protection order that the court must grant or deny within 72 hours. In urgent cases, decisions must be made within 24 hours.

Once the order is granted, courts may prohibit the abuser from harassing, stalking or contacting the applicant and his or her close relatives, order the abuser to move out of the home, or adopt various other measures to protect the applicant.

If the abuser violate the protection order, they may be fined up to 1,000 yuan, detained for up to 15 days or face criminal charges in serious offences.

Dec 24, 2015Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of dengue vaccine

Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia in the country. The vaccine for dengue named, Dengvaxia has been manufactured by French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur. It has been designed to protect people in the 9-45 age groups from all four subtypes of the virus.

Key facts :

Earlier Mexico became the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against dengue fever. In a clinical trial which was conducted last year, Dengvaxia was found to have an effectiveness of 60.8 percent against the four strains of dengue currently in existence.

This vaccine could potentially prevent more than 8,000 hospitalizations and 104 deaths annually and generate savings of up to 1,100 million pesos a year by the reduction in the costs associated with medical care .

The vaccine is a historic milestone for the global public health community as it makes dengue the next vaccine-preventable disease which is the leading cause of hospitalization and death in several Asian and Latin American countries.

An estimated 400 million people are infected with dengue each year in 128 countries across the globe, making it one of the fastest-growing mosquito-borne diseases.

The ruling Conservative People's Party (PP) of Spain led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has won the 2015 general election of the country. In the 2015 general elections of Spain PP won the 123 seats by securing in the lower house of the 350-member Parliament and securing 28.7 percent vote share. It fall 54 short of the 176 seats needed for an absolute majority. The Socialists came second, with 90 seats and 22% of the vote.

The People’s Party will have to form a coalition government with support of other political parties to govern for another four-year term. Two new parties could now hold the balance of power in a future coalition government: the anti-austerity Podemos won 69 seats, the centrist Ciudadanos 40.

United States (US) has lifted a 40 year ban on oil exports marking a historic shift for the booming US oil industry . The move is part of a USD 1.1 trillion spending bill approved by the Senate on Friday that will fund the US government until 2016.

US oil producers will now be able to sell crude to the already saturated international market. It will also help in economic growth and in turn create jobs along with new revenues, prosperity and enhanced energy security for other countries.This move will also pave the way for energy deficient countries like India to open up another frontier to import oil from a distant friendly nation.

Why US had banned crude oil export in 1975?

The ban was first imposed in 1975 as the United States was reeling from the 1973-1974 Arab oil embargo, which dealt a heavy shock to the US economy and sent global prices shooting up.

Arab members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries had banned oil exports to the United States in retaliation for Washington's support of Israel during the Arab-Israeli war.

Seeking greater energy independence, the United States created an emergency stockpile of crude oil, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, in 1975 and banned most crude oil exports.

The export ban had a few exceptions. Some 491 000 barrels per day of crude were allowed to be exported from Alaska and California to Canada for domestic use, and imported crude could be re-exported.

The 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution No. 2254 ending the nearly five-year war in Syria and outlining a peace process in Syria although Offensive and defensive actions against such terrorist groups in Syria such as ISIS will continue.

The resolution endorses talks between the Syrian government and opposition in early January, as well as a ceasefire.The Syrian war, which is heading towards its fifth year, has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced millions.

The resolution Calls for establishment of credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance in Syria within six months. Free and fair elections to be held in Syria under UN supervision within 18 months.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) has unanimously approved Afghanistan’s WTO membership at the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. With this, Afghanistan will become the 163rd WTO member and the ninth least-developed country to become a WTO member since the organization was established in 1995.

In this regard, Protocol of Accession (PoA) was signed by WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo and Afghanistan’s First Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Khan Rahmani.The final accession to become a full member will come in to effect after PoA is ratified by Afghanistan Parliament till June 2015. It will be the 36th least developed country (LDC) to join the global trade body.

Advantages for Afghanistan:

By joining WTO, landlocked war-shattered Afghanistan hopes to reap the benefits of the WTO membership for its post-conflict reconstruction.

Trade-led growth will help to create new economic opportunities in world’s poorest economy and create jobs especially for women and in turn help to reduce poverty.

Post-conflict reconstruction will certainly contribute in a major way to reduce extremism and achieve regional peace and security

About World Trade Organization (WTO) :

World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization which regulates international trade. The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948.

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to cut off funds for the Islamic State the extremist group, and other Al-Qaeda-linked terror outfits through illicit activities like raising funds through oil smuggling, trading in antiquities and kidnapping for ransom. The 15-nation Council adopted the Russian-drafted resolution, which provides for a range of tools that make the financing of IS a serious criminal offence.

This resolution is a response to the threat posed by the Islamic State, the resolution focuses extensively on terrorist financial support networks, particularly IS' raising of funds through oil smuggling, looting of antiquities, kidnapping for ransom and other illicit activities.

Key Facts of the resolution :

The 28-page resolution, sponsored by the United States and the Russian Federation, condemns any direct and indirect trade, in particular of oil and oil products, with IS, Al Nusra Front (ANF) and other Al-Qaeda-linked groups and threatens to impose sanctions on those who engage in any such trade with the terror groups, including those involved in the oil trade with IS.

It emphasises that all states must freeze all assets of the terror groups as well as those of their agents including their oil, oil products, modular refineries, and related material.

The resolution calls for increased international cooperation in stopping illicit oil trafficking benefiting IS, ANF, and Al-Qaeda-related groups by sharing information on smuggling routes and providing capacity building assistance to counter smuggling.

The resolution bans the illicit trade of antiquities from Iraq and Syria so that the destruction of cultural heritage and religious sites by IS could be stopped.

The resolution urges that member nations not to supply IS, ANF, and Al-Qaeda-related groups with arms in particular man-portable surface-to-air missiles as such things can be danger to International peace.

Saudi Arabia has reopened its embassy in Baghdad, 25 years after relations were broken over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The staff of the Saudi embassy arrived in Baghdad. The staff consists of 35 people, led by the ambassador's deputy. The ambassador himself is due to arrive today and attend an official opening ceremony. A consulate is expected to open later in Arbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.

Relation beween Saudi Arabia and Iraq

Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq were severed in 1990 but restored in 2004 after the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.

Relations remain strained between the Gulf kingdom, a Sunni powerhouse, and Shia-dominated Iraq, where Iran and armed groups loyal to it wield huge influence.

Iraqi officials have repeatedly accused Riyadh of abetting the Islamic State group, which took over large areas of the country last year

Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a coalition of 34 predominately Muslim nations to combat terrorism. The alliance has been established in pursuance of the objectives and principles of the charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which calls for all member states to cooperate to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Facts about 34-country Islamic alliance :

The joint operations centre of the alliance will be established in the Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The 34-country military alliance will includes nations with large and established armies such as Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt as well as war-torn countries such as Libya and Yemen

The new alliance which has been established amid international pressure on gulf countries urging a greater regional involvement in the campaign against the militants. The new alliance will co-ordinate efforts against extremists in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.

Following pressure from German authorities Google, Facebook, and Twitter have agreed to delete hate speech deemed illegal in Germany within 24 hours, which is considered to be a new step in the fight against rising online racism following the refugee crisis.

There has been rise in anti-foreigner comments in German on the web that too in a situtaion when Germany is struggling to cope with an influx of more than 1 million refugees this year. The new agreement makes it easier for users and anti-racism groups to report hate speech to specialist teams at the three companies.

Facebook has also a partnership with a group called FSM, which monitors multimedia service providers on a voluntary basis, and has said it would encourage its users to push back against racism.

The IAEA concluded that Iran conducted nuclear weapons-related research until 2003 and to a lesser extent until 2009, but found no evidence of this since 2009.

In a symbolic victory for Iran, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution ending its long-running inquiry but allowing inspectors to continue to police the country's nuclear programme.

The lifting of sanctions, agreed in a July deal with world powers : the P5+1 was awaiting the IAEA's findings on the issue but now the move is seen as a key step towards lifting UN, EU and US sanctions on Iran.

About Iran nuclear deal framework

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015 between Iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany), and the European Union.

Key points of Nuclear deal

Under the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about two-thirds the number of its centrifuges for at least fifteen years.

For the next fifteen years, Iran will only enrich uranium up to 3.67%. Iran also agreed not to build any new uranium-enriching or heavy-water facilities over the same period. Uranium-enrichment activities will be limited to a single facility using first-generation centrifuges for ten years.

To monitor and verify Iran's compliance with the agreement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities.

When it is verified that Iran is fully abided by its commitments, Iran will receive relief from U.S., European Union, and United Nations Security Council nuclear-related sanctions.

Women have been elected to municipal councils in Saudi Arabia for the first time after the country's first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates. A total of 978 women registered as candidates, they were up against nearly 6,000 men competing for places on 284 councils. About 130,000 women had registered to vote in Saturday's poll, compared with 1.35 million men.

As per election results 20 female candidates were elected to 284 municipal council seats being contested. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi became the first elected female politician in Saudi Arabia as a result of the election, when she won a seat on the council in Madrakah in Mecca province.

Saudi Arabian municipal elections, 2015

The 2015 election was for two thirds of the council seats, on 284 municipal councils, with both male and female candidates and voters.This was the first election in Saudi Arabia in which women were allowed to vote, the first in which they were allowed to run for office and the first in which women were elected as politicians. The previous two elections, in 2005 and 2011, were for half the council seats and were open to male candidates and voters only.

Pakistan has successfully test-fired nuclear-capable medium-range Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile which can carry nuclear warheads up to 2,750 kms bringing many Indian cities within its range.

The test flight of the missile was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system. The impact point of the missile test was in the Arabian Sea, it successfully validated all desired parameters.

Key facts about Shaheen-III ballistic missile

Development of Shaheen-III began in secrecy in early 2000s, it is a land-based surface-to-surface medium range ballistic missile. Shaheen-III was successfully test fired for the first time by military service on 9 March 2015.

Shaheen-III is capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads up to 2,750 kilometres which could enable it to attack all corners of India and reach deep into the Middle East parts of North Africa and Southern Europe.

Shaheen-III is able to reach far Northeast India and Tri-service command of India located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Shaheen-III is the longest-range missile to be launched by the Pakistan's military.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture, a UN watchdog, urged China to end the rampant use of torture in its prisons and close all secret jails. Members of the council expressed concern at the arrest of dissidents, the continued use of the death penalty and the use of torture in prison.

The U.N. Committee Against Torture, which reviewed Beijing's record on torture and inhuman and degrading treatment last month, found that "the practice of torture and ill-treatment is still deeply entrenched in the criminal justice system" in China.

The Committee Against Torture that Chinese police uses wield excessive power during the criminal investigation without effective control, and are also involved in the running of detention centers, creating an incentive for torture in the pursuit of confessions to take place in detention.

In 2009 it was recommended that China make improvements in reducing poverty and support the rights of ethnic minorities but Human rights groups claims that China has failed to address these and other issues.

Top Teams: Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and Force India.

Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy has been sworn in as acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

He has been given the additional charge of Governor of Arunachal Pradesh during the leave of absence of incumbent Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.

Roy was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Ajit Singh as per the provisions of Article 159 of Constitution of India. He is the 18th Governor to be sworn in as Governor of this Himalayan State.

About Tathagata Roy :

Tathagata Roy born on 14 September 1945 in Kolkata, West Bengal is politician, engineer and author. He studied Civil Engineering in Bengal Engineering College Sibpur and joined Indian Railways Service of Engineers.

He took voluntary retirement in 1990 and Jadavpur University as professor and founder head of the Department of Construction Engineering. He was attracted towards Hindutva and became a Swayamsevak in 1986. After leaving government service he joined the BJP in 1990.

He has authored two books :

The Life and Times of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

My People, Uprooted: A Saga of the Hindus of Eastern Bengal.

Constitutional provisions of Governor :

Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each State. The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 provides that nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.

Article 156: The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. The Governor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office. Governor is appointed by President and hold office during the pleasure of President.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT-Bombay and Madras to establish a bi-nodal ‘Centre of Propulsion Technology’ (CoPT) at the two institutions.

The initiative is aimed at achieving synergy between DRDO and Indian Institutes of Technology for channelising the research efforts towards developing products and related critical aerospace technologies.

CoPT will evolve mechanisms to facilitate execution of programs related to propulsion technology and will engage the primary Research Nodes (IIT Bombay and IIT Madras) and other research institutions.

It will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed research in the focused areas of futuristic aero engines, hypersonic propulsion for long duration flight.

Captain Radhika Menon, first woman captain of the Indian Merchant Navy recently became the first woman in the world to receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for the year 2016 from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The award was bestowed upon her for her role in the dramatic rescue of seven fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in tumultuous seas in the Bay of Bengal in June last year.

She rescued all seven fishermen from the fishing boat Durgamma, which was adrift following engine failure and loss of anchor in severe weather. For this bravery she was nominated for the award by the Government of India.

Facts about Radhika Menon :

She is the first Indian women captain of a merchant navy ship. She joined the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) as a trainee radio officer in 1991. Her job in navy was to look after the communication system of the ship.

She continued appearing for exams and kept excelling in her career. She cleared her master's certificate exam in 2010 and sailed in MT Suvarna Swarajya twice before she took charge of the ship as captain.

It is very difficult to find successful women in merchant navy as despite being good in their jobs women usually have to quit their jobs as they need to take of their families but Radhika Menon is an exception.

The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is now critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The declaration was based on IUCN assessment which considers past, current and future rates of species loss.

The combined impacts of habitat loss, habitat degradation and illegal hunting equate to an 86 per cent population reduction between 1973 and 2025.

Observing the the current human behaviour toward wildlife it has been predicted that population will further decline to 47,000 animals by 2025.

Facts about Bornean orangutan :

The Bornean orangutan is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the Sumatran orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia.

Like the other great apes, orangutans are highly intelligent, displaying advanced tool use and distinct cultural patterns in the wild. Orangutans share approximately 97 per cent of their DNA with humans.

Cause of decline in Population :

Deforestation: About 40 per cent of Borneo’s forests has been lost due to palm oil plantations and cutting down of trees for furniture. Threats to wild orangutan populations include poaching, habitat destruction, and the illegal pet trade.

Slow Breeding: They are slow breeders as females only reproduce once every six to eight years (the longest birth interval of any land mammal).

Nimi Sunilkumar, cookbook author and food blogger, has won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for 2015-16. Her book 4 o’clock Temptations of Kerala has been chosen for the award in the ‘Best Indian Cuisine Cookbook’ section.

The cookbook is enriched with photos and details of 54 recipes from Kerala and each of these recipes are said to be specific to each district. She has won the award for the second time, earlier she had won the award in 2013.

Her Lip-smacking Dishes of Kerala was selected third ‘Best Local Cuisine Book in the World’ in 2013. She is a culinary teacher and dietician at Tata High Range School, Munnar.

Gourmand World Cookbook Award:

The award was founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau. It is free competition and open to publishers in all languages and countries. The Gourmand Awards celebrate global cookbook and wine book publishing and feature many world-renowned chefs each year.

India and South Africa have inked four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in four areas of co-operation including Information and Communication technology, Tourism, Grass root innovation and 'art, culture' sport.

These MoUs were signed in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Jacob Juma in Pretoria, South Africa.

Agreements signed are :

MoU on Tourism.

MoU on Grass root innovation (Science and Technology).

MoU on Information and Communication technology (ICT).

Programme of Cooperation in Arts and Culture.

The visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks another glorious chapter in India-South Africa relations, which have travelled from the fight against racial prejudice to a resolve to join hands and realize potential in trade and commerce ties. India also thanked the South African President for support to India’s NSG membership.

A Bench of Supreme Court led by Justices Madan B. Lokur and U.U. Lalit said in an 85-page judgment that "every death caused by the armed forces in a disturbed area, whether the victim is a dreaded criminal or a militant or a terrorist or an insurgent, should be thoroughly enquired into." This is to address any allegation of use of excessive or retaliatory force beyond the call of duty.

The judgment came on a plea by hundreds of families in the north-eastern State of Manipur for a probe by a Special Investigation Team into 1,528 cases of alleged fake encounters involving the Army and the police.

This judgment of Supreme Court is a blow to the immunity enjoyed by security personnel under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA) against criminal action for acts committed in disturbed areas.

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